Line throwing mechanism for pistols



March 15, 1938. R. F. SEDGLEY LINE THROWING MECHANISM FOR PISTOLS Filed Sept. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY March 15, 1938. SEDGLEY 2,111,374

LINE THROWING mscrmmsm FOR PISTOLS Filed Sept. 10, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT Claims.

The object of this invention is to devise a novel line throwing mechanism for pistols of any desired type which although not limited to such use is'especially adapted for use with pistols, of the 5 signal type.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel sub-calibre device which receives a rod at the end of which a novel line carrying projectile is supported.

With the above and other novel objects in view, as will hereinafter clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims, my invention comprehends a. novel line throwing mechanism for pistols. 1

It further comprehends a novel construction and arrangement of a sub-calibre device which carries a novel construction and arrangement of a line carrying projectile.

Other novel features of construction and adgo vantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I

have shown in the accompanying drawings typical embodiments of it, which, in practice, will give as satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however,

to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and my invention is not limited to the exact'arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities, as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pistol in conjunction with which my line throwing mechanism embodying my invention is employed.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the projectile and its rod.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a sub-calibre attachment.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the forward end of the sub-calibre attachment.

Figure 5 is an end view of the forward end of the sub-calibre attachment.

Figure 6 is an end view of the rear end of the sub-calibre attachment.

Figure '7 is an end view of the projectile.

Figure 8 is a. side elevation of another form of projectile embodying my invention.

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly broken away showing the rod fitting the bore of a pistol.

Figure 10 is a side elevation showing another manner of securing the line carrier casing to a pistol.

Figure 11 is a section on line ll--ll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a sectional plan view of the means for interlocking the line carrier casing with the pistol.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corre .sponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

l designates a pistol of any desired or conven tional type, in conjunction with which a line throwing mechanism is to be employed.

For purpose of illustration, I have shown the pistol in the form of a signal pistol, having a stock I, and having a barrel 2, adapted to receive a novel sub-calibre attachment 3. The subcalibre attachment 3 is provided with a head 5 at its rear end and a collar 5 near its forward end, adapted to fit the bore of the pistol barrel. The head preferably tapers forwardly to fit the tapered seat 6 at the rear end of the barrel and has an annular shoulder l to seat in the annular groove 8 at the end of the barrel. The body portion of the sub-calibre attachment preferably tapers from the head towards the collar and is cylindrical at its forward end.

An aperture 9 extends through the sub-calibre attachment.

The collar 5 is slotted to receive a catch ill which engages the front end of the barrel as shown in Figure 1, to retain the sub-calibre attachment within the barrel. The catch ill is pivoted to the collar at H, and the collar i0 is recessed as at ill to provide for the insertion of the pivot pin. A spring l3 in a recess in the collar tends to move the catch outwardly. The heads has a hole It to receive an ejector iii in the form of an L shaped member having its shank extending into the hole It and bearing against a spring Q Hi. The ejector has a lip i'i which extends beneath the rim of the cartridge.

The shank of the ejector is recessed as at 88 to receive a screw ill to limit the movement of the ejector.

20 designates a projectile, the contour of which may vary in accordance with the results which are desired. The forward end is preferably rounded at the sides and the projectile, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of less diameter at its rear end.

The line connector 2i is preferably made of wire and has its free ends bent at an angle as at 22 and extending into recesses 23 in opposite sides of the projectile. The line connector is deflected upon itself to form an eye to which is attached the free end of the line which is to be thrown. The line 25 is contained within a can 26 open at its forward end and preferably detachably connected with the pistol barrel by a clip 27.

The projectile is recessed at 28 to receive a rod or stem 29. The rear end of the projectile is recessed at 39 and in the form of projectile seen in Figure 8, the projectile is pointed or bullet shaped instead of having its forward end blunt. Otherwise it is similar in construction to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the line connector is attached to it in a similar manner to that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The operation will now be apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows:

The can containing the life line ,can be placed on the ground or bottom of a boat or attached to the pistol barrel.

The sub-calibre attachment is moved into the barrel until the catch engages the front end. A blank cartridge is inserted into the bore of the sub-calibre attachment and the barrel closed and locked.

The free end of the life line is connected with the line connector on the projectile and the rod is inserted into the bore of the sub-calibre attachment with the projectile supported on the free end of the rod.

When the pistol is fired, the gases resulting from the explosion of the charge in the cartridge ejects the rod, and even if the rod is loose in the projectile it usually travels with the projectile. I prefer to have the rod fixed to the end of the projectile, for example by having its forward end tightly fitting the recess 28.

I have found in practice that there is an advantage in recesslng the rear end of the projectile as it increases the surface against which the gases impinge after leaving the bore of the pistol.

In Figure 9, I have shown the rod 29 as fitting the bore of a pistol to eliminate the necessity of a sub-calibre attachment. 4

I have found that a better balance of the pistol is provided if the line carrier casing 26, instead of being carried by the barrel, is mounted on the stock I, as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12.

In this embodiment the stock is provided with a lug 3|, having opposite side walls diverging outwardly to form a key. The line carrier casing 26 has secured to its bottom, in any desired manner, a longitudinally extending bar 32 having a wedge shaped recess or key way 33 to receive the key 3!. A spring 34 has one end fixed to the bar 32 as at 35, and its opposite end carries a pin 36, which passes through an opening 37 and into a recess 38 in the key 3| to lock the casin 26 to the stock I. When the pin 36 is moved outwardly, the casing 26 can be slid rearwardly and removed from the pistol.

The line carrier, casing 26 when in its forward position, may, if desired, contact with a fixed portion of the head portion of the stock.

My present invention is especially adapted for use with a signal pistol used for shooting parachute fiares or signals. This enables one to use the same pistol for signalling and also for throwing a life line.

The sub-calibre device can be inserted into and removed from the barrel of the pistol by the user, and when assembled is locked in position. The sub-calibre device preferably extends beyond the forward end of the barrel. The projectile is at the forward end of the rod so that the line from the line connector or halyard has proper clearance from the pistol as the line is carried out by the projectile.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful line throwing mechanism for pistols which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present-instance, shown and de scribed preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that these embodiments are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a pistol, of line throwing mechanism comprising a line carrier mounted on the upper face of the stock in rear' of the barrel, a rod to enter the barrel of the pistol and a projectile on the rod and connected with the line of the line carrier.

2. The combination with a pistol having a stock and a barrel for shooting flares, of line throwing mechanism, comprising a line carrier keyed to the upper portion of the stock in rear of the barrel, means to lock the line carrier relatively to the stock, a rod to enter the barrel of the pistol and a projectile on the rod and connected with the line of the line carrier.

3. The combination with a pistol having a stock and a barrel to shoot flares, of line throwing mechanism comprising a pistol having a stock and a barrel for shooting flares, a line carrier keyed to the upper portion of the stock in rear of the barrel, a sub-calibre barrel within the pistol barrel and having a spring actuated catch engaging the front end of the barrel, a rod to enter the sub-calibre barrel, and a projectile on the rod and connected to the line of the line carrier.

4. The combination with a pistol having a stock and a barrel for shooting flares of a sub-calibre attachment insertable through the rear end of the barrel, having a rod receiving bore extending in advance of the pistol barrel, having a head with its periphery tapering forwardly and a front collar having a spring catch to engage the front end of the pistol barrel.

5. The combination with a pistol having a stock and a barrel for shooting flares of a sub-calibre attachment insertable through the rear end of the barrel, having a rod receiving bore extending in advance of the pistol barrel, having a head with its periphery tapering forwardly and a front collar having a spring catch to engage the front end of the pistol barrel, a spring actuated L shaped ejector, and means to limit the movement of said ejector.

REGINALD F. SEDGLEY. 

